Transformative Airway Expansion: A Mother’s Journey to Restoring Her Child’s Health

When a child faces unexplained medical challenges, parents often find themselves navigating a maze of specialists, tests, and unanswered questions. In this episode of the More Than Teeth Podcast, host Dr. Michael Bennett welcomes Alison Allred, a devoted mother who shares her family’s remarkable journey in uncovering the root cause of her son’s health struggles and how airway-focused treatment transformed his life.

Alison’s story highlights the power of parental intuition, collaborative care, and the importance of looking beyond symptoms to uncover true underlying causes.

A Complex Medical Mystery

Alison begins by explaining how her son started experiencing troubling symptoms at a very young age, including headaches, behavioral changes, eye discomfort, and developmental concerns. What initially appeared to be possible vision issues quickly escalated into a serious medical evaluation.

After extensive testing, doctors discovered that her son had idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), a rare condition involving excess pressure around the brain. Although medication helped stabilize the condition, the underlying cause remained unknown despite visits to multiple specialists, including neurology, endocrinology, and genetics.

For Alison, “idiopathic” was not a satisfying answer. She knew something deeper was affecting her child’s health.

A Chance Connection That Changed Everything

A turning point came when Alison worked with a lactation consultant and myofunctional therapist during the birth of her second child. During a home visit, the specialist noticed signs in Alison’s older son that suggested potential airway and oral development issues.

Although the idea initially stayed in the background, it planted an important seed, one that later resurfaced when Alison began researching sleep-related breathing concerns connected to her son’s diagnosis.

She discovered that many children with similar neurological symptoms showed improvement when airway issues such as sleep apnea were addressed.

Discovering the Airway Connection

Alison was referred to Dr. Michael Bennett for a comprehensive airway evaluation. Imaging revealed that her son’s sinuses were chronically blocked and that his airway was significantly narrow findings that aligned with years of unexplained symptoms.

Rather than pursuing invasive surgical options prematurely, Alison advocated for conservative and functional care. Collaboration with ENT specialists confirmed that surgical removal of tonsils or adenoids was unnecessary, reinforcing the decision to pursue airway development and sinus management instead.

This multidisciplinary approach ensured that treatment addressed structure, breathing, and long-term growth, not just isolated symptoms.

Expansion and Measurable Improvements

Once airway expansion treatment began, Alison began noticing steady and meaningful improvements in her son’s health and quality of life.

Some of the most notable changes included:

• Improved sinus drainage and nasal breathing
  
  
• Significant reduction in headaches
  
  
• Better sleep quality and calmer behavior
  
  
• Improved mood, social engagement, and emotional regulation
  
  
• Increased appetite and noticeable growth progress
  
  

For the first time, her son began registering measurable growth on pediatric charts, a milestone that had never occurred previously.

Friends and family began commenting that he seemed like an entirely different child.

The Power of Trusting Parental Instinct

Throughout the conversation, Alison emphasizes the importance of trusting intuition when advocating for a child’s health. While she deeply respected medical professionals, she remained persistent in seeking answers when solutions felt incomplete.

Her journey underscores that meaningful health transformation often requires patience, persistence, and openness to integrated care models that consider the whole body, especially airway health and sleep quality.

Dr. Bennett reinforces that optimal breathing and sleep allow the body’s natural healing systems to function more effectively, improving outcomes across all therapies.

A Message for Parents and Caregivers

Alison leaves listeners with powerful advice:

• Trust your instincts.
  
  
• Ask questions and seek clarity.
  
  
• Be patient with the process; true healing takes time.
  
  
• Remain open to interdisciplinary care approaches.
  
  

Her story serves as an inspiration for parents navigating complex medical challenges and seeking sustainable solutions for their children’s well-being.

Listen to the Full Episode

Tune in to hear Alison’s full story and learn more about how airway-focused treatment can impact childhood development and overall health.

For more episodes of the More Than Teeth Podcast, visit MoreThanTeeth.com or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.